A Tarrant County couple have been arrested on animal cruelty charges after authorities say three puppies were found dead and burned in a barrel over the weekend.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (http://bit.ly/14uIkNN ) reports 38-year-old Melissa Woodard and 33-year-old Christoper Apala were arrested Saturday at a home in northwest Tarrant County that records show belongs to Woodard. The two remained in jail Tuesday on $15,000 bond each. Jail records did not list attorneys for them.

On Saturday, Woodard's sister called 911 to say she found the puppies in a barrel.

Terry Grisham of the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office says they haven't determined whether the puppies were killed before or after they were burned.